Karthigai Deepam festival in Arunachaleshwara temple ; Thiruvannamalai ; Tamil Nadu
Five different temples were dedicated to lord Siva for worshipping Him in the form of five elements of nature, namely, earth, water, wind, ire and ether. The Arunachaleshwara Temple (Chola Period 9th - 13th century) in Thiruvannamalai is one of them and Siva is worshipped in the form of fire and one of the 12 Jothilingams in India. This gigantic temple is located at the foot of the sacred Annamalai or Arunachala Hill. Nine lofty towers of the Arunachaleshwara Temple, the numerous stucco figures and the neatly and intricately carved stone sculptures stand as admirable testimony to the Dravidian Architecture and skills of the master craftsmen of the yester years. The temple is located on a sprawling 25 acre land, encompassing several shrines, mandapa, corridors and other such enclosures each adorned with massive pillars with sculptures minutely and aesthetically carved. Numerous inscriptions dating back as early as to the 10th century and as a late as 16th century are found on the walls of this temple, recording the liberal contributions of kings and rich to this temple.
Size: 2592px × 3872px
Location: Thiruvannamalai, Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, Tamilnadu, South India, India, Asia
Photo credit: © Muthuraman Vaithinathan / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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